About Herceptin for Adjuvant Treatment

Every person who has HER2+ breast cancer is unique, and no cancer treatment works for every person. Your experience may be different from those of the women who participated in the clinical trials. Further, because of the aggressive nature of HER2+ breast cancer, the status of these women may change over time.

Adjuvant Breast Cancer Treatment

Get the facts you need to help you discuss treatment options with your doctor; such as Herceptin for HER2+, node-positive breast cancer. Herceptin, as part of a treatment regimen containing doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel, is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. Herceptin as a single agent is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of HER2-overexpressing node-negative (ER/PR-negative or with one high-risk feature) or node-positive breast cancer, following multi-modality anthracycline-based therapy.

The terms "early" and "advanced" are sometimes used to describe tumors, but these terms may be used differently by different doctors. Generally, "early" or "early-stage" breast cancer means that the cancer has not spread beyond the breast or lymph nodes under the arm (known as axillary lymph nodes). Stage 0, I, and II, as well as some stage III cancers, are usually considered early-stage. Adjuvant treatment refers to the treatment of "early-stage" breast cancer.

What is Herceptin?

Herceptin is a therapy for women with breast cancer whose tumors have too much HER2 protein.

How Does Herceptin Work?

Herceptin is designed to target and destroy HER2+ cancer cells.

What to Expect

Herceptin is not chemotherapy. Read more to find out why your doctor may have prescribed it for you and how it is given.

Possible Benefits of Herceptin

A discussion of the possible benefits experienced by people who have received Herceptin plus chemotherapy and their importance.

Treatment Duration

Learn about the duration of treatment with Herceptin for patient with HER2+, node-positive breast cancer.

Cardiac Monitoring

Find out more about why your doctor may monitor your heart function before you begin Herceptin therapy.

Possible Side Effects

Read more about possible side effects you may experience with Herceptin.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

A list of questions for you to print out and take with you to your doctor regarding breast cancer, your tumor status and to find out if Herceptin is right for you.

What important safety information should I know about Herceptin?

Herceptin treatment can result in heart problems, including those without symptoms (reduced heart function) and those with symptoms (congestive heart failure). The risk and seriousness of these heart problems were highest in people who received both Herceptin and a certain type of chemotherapy (anthracycline). Your doctor will stop or strongly consider stopping Herceptin if you have a significant drop in your heart function.

You should be monitored for decreased heart function before your first dose of Herceptin, and frequently during the time you are receiving Herceptin and after your last dose of Herceptin. If you must permanently or temporarily stop Herceptin due to heart problems, you should be monitored more frequently.

Some patients have had serious infusion reactions and lung problems; fatal infusion reactions have been reported. In most cases, these reactions occurred during or within 24 hours of receiving Herceptin. Your Herceptin infusion should be temporarily stopped if you have shortness of breath or very low blood pressure. Your doctor will monitor you until these symptoms go away. If you have a severe allergic reaction, swelling, lung problems, inflammation of the lung, or severe shortness of breath, your doctor may need to completely stop your Herceptin treatment.

Worsening of low white blood cell counts associated with chemotherapy has also occurred.

Herceptin can cause low amniotic fluid levels and harm to the fetus when taken by a pregnant woman.

The most common side effects associated with Herceptin were fever, nausea, vomiting, infusion reactions, diarrhea, infections, increased cough, headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, rash, low white and red blood cells, and muscle pain.

Because everyone is different, it is not possible to predict what side effects any one person will have. If you have questions or concerns about side effects, talk to your doctor.

Please see full prescribing information for Boxed WARNINGS and additional important safety information.

About Herceptin & Adjuvant Breast Cancer

Adjuvant Breast Cancer Treatment